John Saffery, Salisbury, to Philip Whitaker, Bratton, [Friday], 3 October 1806.

Sarum  Octr 3d, 1806

My Dear Bror,

   Being a leisure man with more than almost any one else to do, I am to be at Bristol next Sab. Week to beg 2 or 3 weeks for the Falmouth case.

   As I want to take Shrewton, Bratton, Trowbridge, Bradford, Melksham & Chippenham in my way, I intend leaving home next Tuesday, & preaching at Shrewton in the evening – Will you send a Horse to S– for me either Tuesday evening, or Wednesday morning time enough for me to get to Bratton by 9 oclock to breakfast with you – If you can lend me a horse the remainder of that day & Thursday, or Thursday & Friday, to go to the above places, by my sending it from Bradford & going from thence to Bath either Friday or Saturday morning I shall be under additional & great obligation to you – My dr M– will fill the remainder of this – I hope you pray much for me no poor creature needs so much Divine help – Blessed be God amidst all my labours & anxieties, no sinner has more to be thankful for my personal, & relative, temporal & spiritual mercies are very many – O for a [heart] to love & serve God more – Yours very affectly

                                             J Saffery

Attached to the above letter is a letter from Maria Grace Saffery to Anne Whitaker, dated the same as above.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840 (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 6, p. 222 (annotated version); Saffery/Whitaker Papers, acc. 142, I.A.16.(a.), Angus Library. Address: Mr Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm | to be left at the | Red Lion | Warminster | Octr 3d 1806.  Postmark: Salisbury. Saffery was making a quick preaching tour of some of the Particular Baptist churches in Wiltshire.